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The Works
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 10 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for The Works
Review Highlights
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"...had the Sexy Burger (with chicken breast) and I have to say..." In 3 reviews -
"...spicy sauce, pineapple, cream cheese, and banana peppers." In 3 reviews
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"Great variety of burger toppings." In 8 reviews
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29 reviews in English
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Review from OJ B.
Toronto, ON
12/15/2011
I'm always up for a good pizza, burrito, or burger, and I have to say that the burger I had at the Works is my reigning champion.
It has been about a year since I had it, and it still haunts me. The "Roughriders Comeback" with caramelized onions, bold bbq sauce, jack cheese & crisp bacon was pretty much burger perfection. The beef was delicious and well cooked, the bacon was tasty, the BBQ sauce was messy but flavourful, and the cheese and onions were the perfect touch. This was a big burger, extremely satisfying and filling.
The fries were not to be outclassed by the burger, and were fantastic too. Finally, to make this meal the perfect storm, I had my first taste of Beau's Lug Tread Lagered Ale to wash it all down.
Great burgers - with probably about 70 of their custom burgers to choose from (not counting the various choices of meat before you start), or the freedom to design your own with a wide range of toppings, and lots of vegetarian options. Onion rings and shakes looked great too, but I was ready to burst after my feast.
Sadly I'm not in Ottawa very often, and I see locations have sprung up all around me, but none in Toronto yet. If we are ever near one of these though, it will be worth making a detour. -
Review from Ashley G.
Ottawa, ON
3/9/2012
Long waiting times to get a seat, and long waiting times to get your food!!! We waited over 40 minutes on a Friday night for a table of six. I guess it is understandable, if the restaurant only has TWO tables that can accommodate that size of a group. I would never wait that long at a burger joint, but sometimes you just have to put up with a long wait to please family and friends who are really looking forward to their dining experience.
Not to mention when you are waiting for a table, you are usually stuck standing next to other tables inside the restaurant, watching patrons eat for 20+ minutes, or you may be lucky and get to sit on their one small "waiting" bench that fits 3 people. Most people wait outside on warmer days.
*They do not take reservations, so there is no trying to beat the wait.*
If you have never been to The Works, then be prepared for a rustic interior, with picnic tables for seating, light bulb salt and pepper shakers, chain fences indoors, measuring cups for drinking glasses, and tin trays that hold your food.
The server was extremely friendly, and always smiling, which made our experience even better. Server was chatty.
I ordered the ho hum #2-(burger topped with cheddar cheese and bacon) with a poutine. The bun did not feel or taste fresh; stale and dry. The burger was nicely charcoaled, but also a tad dry. The poutine was good, although, lukewarm when it arrived, but hot in the middle.
Everybody else enjoyed their meals. Portions were not huge.
6 meals and a couple of fountain drinks came to $100.00.
I am in no rush to return to The Works, and it is nothing to "write home" about. Food was good, burgers & fries were OK. All in all, it was just OK. -
Review from Jenna M.
Ottawa, ON
5/26/2012
Like all the other Works, they have a huge menu and generous portion sizes for pretty good prices. I have no issues with the Works in the Glebe except sometimes parking is a pain and at restaurant rush times, you have to wait quite a while. Other than that, it's pretty great and the staff is fun.
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Review from Luke C.
5/15/2012 1 Check-in Here
Awesome burgers and friendly staff. Top place
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Review from Dara-Lyn C.
Ottawa, ON
3/13/2012
Not even worth a second try... I barely survived the first. Woke up in the middle of the night choking on my own vomit... Thanks a lot for your inability to cook a burger :(
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Review from Chris Y.
Updated - 8/6/2011 1 photo
Despite the fact that Bank Street is completely torn up, and The Works has a front-row seat to all the roadwork, it is still well worth the trouble to eat at this delicious burger joint.
Though Hintonburger is currently Ottawa's Best Burger in my book, the milkshakes made at The Works will likely be the best you've ever tasted. (Unless you are familiar with Newport Beach's Galley Cafe: http://www.yelp.com/bi...). The chocolate chip shake was a little disappointing (vanilla milkshake with actual chocolate chips on top), I am still drooling over it right now. Chocolate was the bomb, and the Double Fudge milkshake was really the inspiration behind this follow-up review. Easily, it's Canada's best. I will never again choke down a Harvey's milkshake as long as The Works is around.Listed in: Food, eh?!, Canadia! - The Experience
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/7/2011
They've got some good burgers here. Really really tasty. You pick what kind of meat you want… Read more »
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Review from Katie M.
Toronto, ON
8/30/2011
There is 7 choice of meat, over thirty combination of toppings and 12 choice of side dish. I ordered a domestic Elk burger with caesar salad and "North of Fifth" toppings(tiger shrimp, avocado, diced tomatoes and minced garlic). The meat was done just right and so is the presentation.
They serve drinks in large measuring cups. My daughter ordered a kiwi crush and she is very pleased.
It is definitely a fancy burger joint, casual and friendly. -
Review from Tina D.
Mississauga, ON
8/21/2011
This place is amazing!!! Why would anyone not like this places is a bit beyond me. Never in my life have I had a burger as good as this one. I didn't live to far from here so I went at least once a month if not more.
If I had to describe this place in one word it you would be fun. This food is fun, the decor is fun, and the staff (when it's not busy) always seems to be having a good time.
The toppings you can choose from are endless and it will take a couple of ordered to really find out which burger is best for you. I always get the Spartaca Special (bacon, avocado, Havarti cheese on a whole wheat bun, with a beef patty). Some of their toppings are weird, but there great to try, I mean peanut butter on a burger? Who knew? Plus for their kids menu, they can get KD as a side. I would have loved that if I was a kid.
I always tell people who are going there for the first time, be patient. Unless you make a reservation you will be waiting a while for your seat, then you will wait for your meal. They make everything fresh so you have to wait a bit for it. All the more reason to get their Tower-O-Rings with their Beechhouse sauce. I have asked 3 times what's in this sauce and I have never gotten a clear answer. It's so good whatever it is.
I can go on about how awesome this place is. It's too bad not everyone agrees. It's expanding which makes me excited. I moved back to Toronto a year ago and miss my monthly Works fix. Get wait for it to open in Oakville -
Review from Ari S.
Ottawa, ON
6/27/2011
Ottawa's most overhyped hamburger joint and, like everything overhyped in Ottawa, it has now morphed into a mini-chain with multiple locations throughout town. And it's baffling that people still wait in their ridiculously huge lines for overpriced fast food. Sure, the burgers are perfectly fine (good but unmemorable), but as noted, generally overcooked unless you sign their ridiculous "waiver" and, even if you do, they're still barely medium rare. Menu is based on the "more the merrier" notion that crowding the menu with hundreds of topping options rather than working with a proven quantity is a good idea. And some of the combinations are just vile (I could almost randomize a burger for them - how about The Yelper featuring pineapple, cream cheese, pickles and avocado?). The fries are fine but nothing special.
So I do not understand the love for this place except that people haven't ventured very far beyond their own backyards (metaphorically and otherwise). That said, the service has invariably been friendly and friendly the few times I've gone, but forgive me if I think spending post-tax and tip $25 a person plus for burgers, fries and a drink is borderline sacrilege at the altar of good food. -
Review from Kiera S.
7/25/2011
Been here a few times, and there are so many original options that I could just go again and again and again.
Milkshakes are delicious - love the idea of serving drinks in old-school Pyrex measuring cups. Don't get a large unless you are super hungry though, as the burger themselves are also quite huge. For a side, I would suggest splitting the onion ring tower.
The wait can be a bit painful - both to get in and to get your food. On the plus side at least you will work up an appetite...
Sidenote: there is a decent selection of vegetarian options. -
Review from Samantha M.
Ottawa, ON
10/25/2011
Ok, so this place has to be one of the funnest places to eat in Ottawa. It's not a relaxed atmosphere so don't go here if you want a quiet dinner with lots of conversation, it's busy, the decor is really neat and it's really casual. I find the burgers to be so hit or miss though, for me the burger patty for the regular beef burger is way too thick so I order the veggie burger. I've made it a goal to try several types of burgers here, and I've been here about 10 times now... 7/10 were incredible, my favorite so far being the sweet ride. However the other 3 would certainly be good if I ordered it with a veggie burger instead of the beef burger, which is why I'm giving it a 4 instead of 5. I'll be back again and again and again.
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Review from Jyotsna M.
12/6/2008
I don't even eat burgers. But tonight, I had the Sexy Burger (with chicken breast) and I have to say, it was the best sandwich I have ever had! The toppings are sweet and spicy sauce, pineapple, cream cheese, and banana peppers. I added some caramelized onions to the mix and was in my own personal food heaven.
I don't know how anyone could leave this place unsatisfied with all the choices on the menu and the extensive sauce collection. We had the Tower of Onion Rings with 4 different sauces. Any burger joint which doesn't even require using the ketchup or mustard on the table is an impressive place! Especially for someone whose yelp name is "saucefan." -
Review from Amanda B.
Ottawa, ON
11/11/2010 2 photos
I've been the the Works many times in the past and it's always remained consistent. The prices are much higher because of their gourmet toppings and unbelievably wide selection. Although they're known for their burgers, they also have a few different types of poutine, onion rings, sandwiches, salads, and many different milkshake flavours. They've expanded their menu in the last couple of years, but it's still humorous. It takes awhile to read over all of it, and when you finally decide on what you want, the burgers take about 20 minutes to cook. This usually results in very long lineups, but you can look over the menu while you're waiting to be seated or check it online beforehand, so it's not as bad as it sounds.
The last meal I ordered was a Tony D-Luxe - ground beef burger with wild mushrooms, baked brie, and crispy bacon, with sweet potato fries and beechhouse dip, and a banana milkshake. You can choose your burger patty (chicken breast, ground turkey, veggie, portobello mushroom cap, organic beef, or elk), as well as your sides and sauce. The milkshake came in a measuring cup, like all of their drinks, and it was very think and creamy like milkshakes should be. I find that the burger tends to be on the dry side, but the toppings more than make up for that. The sweet potato fries are lightly fried and not greasy, and I really recommend eating them with the beechhouse sauce, which is creamy but just a bit tart.
They've expanded to a few locations in the Ottawa area, so visit one and you won't be disappointed! -
Review from Daniel W.
12/3/2010
One of the best burger places I've eaten at. So, they take a bit so don't come if you are in a rush. Its not fast food. They take their time, so deal with it. Take a load off and enjoy the atmosphere. As for the burgers, ours were pretty tasty and cooked well. They give you an endless combination of toppings and I chose peanut butter, cream cheese and bacon which paired well with the burger. No, really, they did. The waitress helped us with pairings for our burgers which we appreciated.
Parking sucks here so we parked down a side street. We had no problems but I can see how that can be a problem.
I can see how locals can petty pick this place a part but I found it to be a good option as a tourist. -
Review from Dave B.
Oakville, ON
9/11/2009
This has to be one of my most favourite places to eat in Ottawa. Yes it is a little pricey. Not too hefty but you do get what you pay for. These burgers are delicious.
At this place they offer more than 300 different combinations on your burger as well as different meat in which the pattys are made from. Furthermore they offer a few side orders such as onion rings, sweet potato fries and so forth. -
Review from Amanda D.
Ottawa, ON
10/24/2008
The Works consistently offers the most overwhelming dining experiences I have ever endured. The burgers, poutine, onion rings and milk shakes are soooo good, but the portions are also waaay too big and every part of your body, except your taste buds, curses you for the next couple hours. My favourite burgers are the Three Ring Binder and Sweet Ride. Three Ring Binder is one of the more popular choices with its onion rings, fried mushrooms, chipolte mayo and gouda cheese. My absolute favourite is The Sweet Ride, which is topped with half a ripe pear, brie and caramelized onions. Argh, so good! Their poutine is one of the best in the city; I know this because I'm a poutine fanatic.
The prices are fairly steep considering you're only getting a burger, fries and drink. Your mind instantly thinks of fast food or diners where the same meal costs $8 rather than $20. But the quality is so much better: it's definitely worth it. -
Review from Andrew A.
Montréal, QC
8/16/2008
Arguably the best burger in town. I love this place, but if you don't like burgers give it a pass, as it's pretty much the only thing on the menu. There are so many choices of toppings that it's daunting to a first timer, but just choose something you like and go with it. Come back to try more. Everything here is good, try the onion rings, and the steamrollers, as apps. You have to get a milk shake, just heavenly, and the pountines are among the best in the city.
Oh and if you go, and someone does the triple overtime (3 half pound burgers in 20 minutes), take some pictures to post, it'll be worth it :)Listed in: The Ottawa that I know
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Review from Graeham M.
Toronto, ON
5/31/2010 1 Check-in Here
So I ran the 10K in Ottawa this past weekend and hadn't been to my former University town in about 4 years, I kept hearing about The Works and how decidedly decadent it was. It was described by one friend as "burger Heaven," but quite frankly it fell waaaay below expectations. It is a nice touch being able to choose between Ground Beef, Whole Chicken Breast, and Ground Turkey as potential meat options and Veggie and Portobello Mushroom caps on the carnivore side, yet after choosing Ground Beef I wished I hadn't.
I opted with the Ho Hum #34 which came with sauteed mushrooms, fried onions and cheddar cheese. What sounded to be a divine creation left a strange taste in my mouth. The patty had no flavour and in fact tasted like it may have been boiled. I know this sounds strange and wasn't the Case, but I have no other way to describe the tasteless lump of ground flesh upon my plate. The mushrooms and onions also were void of any flavour. I tried to compensate with generous squirts of Ketchup and Mustard, but to no avail. The fries were frozen, and if this isn't the case I apologize, yet either way they proved to mirror the aforementioned burger in utter lack of taste and disappointment.
The Works needs work!!! -
Review from Jean Laurent L.
Greely, ON
12/3/2010
I've been there a couple times unfortunately both times I was very disapointed. Over 1 hour to receive our food and over $80 for 3 burgers, cola's and 1 onion ring.
Overrated and highly over priced in my view. Not a confortable restaurant and parking at the Hunt Club location is terrible. -
Review from Brian K.
Montréal, QC
12/4/2011
We kept hearing about the Works and finally decided to try it. Cool concept decor and the drinking glasses but the burger. Tasted so old a lot like 'possum road kill. ( really). Not that I eat 'possum that often. The fries were greasy and soggy, we were so diss appointed. We don't mind spending WAY too much for food but not this food. Won't be back.
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Review from Thomas M.
Gatineau, QC
9/7/2010
After going there numerous times, I have to say that I find The Works to be pretty overrated. Sure, they have a lot of options for toppings, but you can't be considered a top burger joint if you can't make a delicious basic ground beef burger. Like another poster said, the patties are literally tasteless. The burger is alright as long as you have cheese/bacon/BBQ sauce/ketchup/etc. on it to give it at least some taste, but give it a try without anything, just the meat. It has no taste. Can't say that I can point out a better burger join in Ottawa, but most of the time when I go to the US I have burgers and they're invariably much better than The Works. For example, Five Guys beats The Works hands down, it's not even close.
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Review from Tim C.
Ottawa, ON
3/26/2011
Excellent milkshakes. Great variety of burger toppings. Burgers may occasionally be slightly overcooked but are usually OK. Consistently friendly service.
It's not fast food so give yourself some time. -
Review from Tyson K.
Nepean, ON
3/9/2011
Great burgers and service. Always go here when I'm in the mood for a superb burger.
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Review from John S.
So I was visiting a friend in Ottawa, and while we were out and looking for something to eat I thought to myself, does Canada make good burgers? I mentioned this to her and she said this was The Works had THE best burgers she'd had, so of course I insisted we go there!
So we walked over there, and as we were going in and sitting down, I noticed the whole industrial theme. It was pretty cool, and actually done very well, carried through all the way down to the light bulb salt and pepper shakers. Props. Afterwards, our waiter came over and took our drink orders and I got a small oreo milkshake, which was really rather good. We also got water... in measuring cup jugs! Awesome in my opinion, especially with how much water I drink! Then, a bit later the waiter came back to take our food orders. Also notable here: the waiter was very very friendly and helpful, and really knew the whole menu (which is saying something because there are literally 60+ burgers available alone!). My friend who's been here a couple times also mentioned that every time the waiters here have been great and friendly and accommodating, whether you want them to stay and chat with you or just stay out of the way after the necessary ordering. And it certainly seemed like the case this time as well, as he sat there with us discussing different burgers and recommending a couple with regards to our individual tastes. He even gave us refills basically instantly every time we needed them.
So I ended up getting the most popular burger, the Smoky Mountain Burger, with an extra fried egg and onion ring, with Elk meat. Speaking of which, elk? AWESOME. Totally have not ever had that. The burger was awesome of course, but i took a bit of the meat off to taste it alone, and it was the weirdest meat, yet so good. The patty was juicy yet almost felt as if it should be dry due to the lack of grease but it was juicy all over, so good. So the great patty aside, the bar-b-Q sauce on the burger was spectacularly flavored, and really brought the whole burger together in terms of flavor. Definitely one of the top 5 burgers I've ever had. I also had the lumpy mashed potatoes, which were flavorful and filling, both alone and with the gravy. And I tried the sweet potato fries, too - good portion, very tasty and soft yet crunchy.
Overall, a great experience and definitely worth coming back to if I'm ever in Ottawa again. Good stuff. -
Review from Tara E.
8/31/2010
Totally delicious burgers, and lots of choice for vegetarians (not that I am). I had the MEC veggie burger (after a glutinous weekend I was trying to be healty) with feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, and fresh avocado. Super yum.
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Review from Ryan B.
Port Coquitlam, BC
9/1/2009
Put simply, The Works is the best burger place I've been to in Canada.
I lived in Ottawa for a couple years and The Works was one of the spots I kept going back to. Since I've moved back to BC I've been searching for a burger place that comes close to The Works and I have yet to find a place that can hold a candle to The Works.
The sheer number of burgers on the menu is great. If you can't find a burger on the menu you'll like, there is something wrong with you. My issue was picking just one.
The burger itself is always great. The surface of the patty is crispy and thick. You can get beef, chicken, bison meat. I'm sure there is a veggie option too.
Normally the burgers come without mustard or relish but you can ask for them.
The milkshakes are good, as are the onion rings. But I always went for the fries.
This isn't fast food. 45 minutes to an hour isn't uncommon for lunch or dinner, plus sometimes you have to wait for a table. For me that's part of the charm on the place. But if you want fast food, go to McD. -
Review from John A.
Nepean, ON
1/11/2009
Decent burgers, very high prices. They should offer a half size serving for a cheaper price. Burgers were good, but not a place that I would visit on any regular basis. No real other choices food wise, burgers or nothing. Service was okay. I have had steaks for the same prices as these burgers
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Review from Jason D.
Ottawa, ON
10/14/2008 2 photos
My wife and I were in the mood for a burger and a brew. It was a Tuesday night around 8pm and we saw a sign for The Works. Talk about serendipity - The Works is THE place for burgers in Ottawa and we totally stumbled across it. Okay, first - they have more than 60 types of burgers available. So, it took a while to narrow down the list. We ordered beers in the meantime (only a few were on the menu - but a tasty selection if you know your brews). Then, we had to decide on our sides - our burgers would be accompanied by fries, home-made chips, wedge cut potatoes, or even a spicy cole slaw! When our burgers arrived, they were unbelievable. On the downside, the food takes FOREVER to arrive. We waited 40 minutes for our food. And the second time I ate there, it took an hour. Come on, dudes. It is burgers, not freakin' haut cuisine! Be prepared to wait and be very bored. There are no tvs and nothing to read while you sit and stew.
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Review from Tyler S.
Ottawa, ON
6/14/2009
A ridiculous number of hamburgers are available here. Good milkshakes too. Can be hard to get seating at times but that really shouldn't be seen as a bad thing when it comes to restaurants.
